I believe the English meaning is the only rude one. The German and Spanish words seem to mean merely short. Shipely takes it back to a PIE word ker that means to scratch or to cut. The root seems to have many branches. In Scottish cutty, of Cutty Sark (mini skirt) fame, is from this PIE root. I sort of like to hear the word because it is so crisp and, well, curt. I notice the given name Kurt often is applied to people of a decisive nature. Perhaps the name influence their development. But I refuse to get into name calling.